From: Jim Brodie [jbrodie@carrsecurities.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 4:27 PM To: SEC Subject: plz help rule 4-483 Carr Securities Corporation 14 Vanderventer Ave., Suite 210 Port Washington, New York 11050 516 944 8300 May 11, 2004 Mr. Jonathan G. Katz Secretary U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20549 Re: Rule-Making Petition 4-483 Dear Mr. Katz: We have been significant investors in small capitalization equity securities for twenty years. We are writing to express our strong support for the "Request for Rulemaking under Section 12(g)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 concerning securities held in 'Street Name'" (Rule-Making Petition 4-483). Along with many other small cap investors, we have recently experienced a very troubling trend. The boards and managements of many of our small company investments have decided to deregister their equity securities and numerous others are seriously contemplating it. Companies with thousands of "beneficial shareholders" but less than 300 shareholders of record have taken advantage of the loophole in the legislation to leave public shareholders materially damaged. Most recently, Hampton Industries has exploited this loophole, plunging its investors in the dark. We are now at the mercy of this company's management who have already demonstrated a desire to hide from investors and their contempt for the legitimate interests of the investing public. Investors buy securities with the explicit expectation that will be protected from fraudulent management practices by the Federal Securities Laws. Allowing companies to simply choose not to comply with the law by taking advantage of a technicality is certainly not the intent of the legislation. We urge the Commission to eliminate this unfortunate loophole in the Federal Securities Laws. Very truly yours, James A. Brodie Managing Director Please see This attached e-mail from a board member>>> ---- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 4:12 PM Subject: Shells > As Hampton is no longer a public company and has not had an audited financial statement in over 3 years, I am informed that we are no longer suitable for a company interested in acquiring a shell. Also, since we are not public, our figures are not published and are only available to shareholders or those signing a confidentiality agreement. > > Roger M. Eichel --------------------------------------------- Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission and National Association of Securities Dealers requirements, all incoming and outgoing e-mail of Carr Securities is subject to review by the Compliance Department. Carr Securities Corporation is not responsible for any recommendation, officiation, offer or agreement or any information about any transaction, customer account or account activity contained in this communication.